Ski binder



April I, `1930. L. D. GIBSON 1,754,422

' SKI BINDER Filed April 17, 1928 Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNrren s'rares LOUIS I). GIBSON,

artnr orrlci:

0F NOR'WAY, MAINE, ASSIGNOB T0 '/V. F. `TUBES COMPANY, 0F `1\l'0]i}l`.7AY, MAINE, A CORPCRATION OF TvIAINE SKI `BINDER Appnbation slee April 17,

My invention relates to ski binders of the type having adjustable toe irons.

An object of my invention is to provide a `ski binder` which may be readily adjustable to suit the width of the wearers shoe.

Another `object of my invention is to pro-` vide a ski binding of the class described in which the adjustment is easily and readily varied and in which the adjustment is permanent. i

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the class described which may be easily applied to the ordinary types of skis.

These and other objects of my invention will become more apparent from the follow- `ing description of an embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings fernung a part of this specication.

` Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the connecting straps;

VFig. 2 is a plan view with the straps removed;

Figs. 3, t and l5 are plan views o1' the inter'- loc-king members which make up the toe plate;

Fig. 6 is avertical medial sectional view of the device ont my invention; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view ot' one of the members of Fig. 4. y

Referring now to the figures of the drawings, wherein like parts are designatedby like reference characters, at 1, 1 show a portion ci a wood ski. 1t will be noted that the ski illustrated does not have a transverse slot projected through it from side to side to receive portions of the binding as in other constructions. I preferably omit this slot, mounting the binding hereinafter described comprising side clamps 3 and 4i, of which two are provided, on the upper surface of the ski. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the clamps are oppositely disposed on the right and left sides of the ski upper surface, and each comprises a quadrilateral bottom plate 6 and 6', respectively, which are wider toward the rear portions thereof. AThe rear edge ot' each is notched to provide a series of teeth shown at 7 and 20, respectively. At the side oE each bottom plate an upwardly extending liange,

1928. Serial No. 270,674.

shown respectively at 14 and 1&1, is provided, which extends rearwardly at 5 and 5', to support pairs o1I buttons 8, 8', 9 and 9', riveted thereon. From the vertical langes, inwardly extending lateral retaining flanges 11 and 11 project, and are adapted to receive the toe strap 24 later described. Slots 12 and 12 are provided ruiming transversely ot' the base tlangcs o' the plates. Each plate is notched at 13 and 13 in the edge opposite to the upwardly extending liange. The retaining ianges 11 11 are adapted to lit overthe thick shoe sole oit the user and to assist in rigidly securing the ski binding to the users The two side clamps are adapted to be held `on to the ski bT a clam eine late as best shown in Fig. 7 which comprises a piece of sheet metal 17 in preferably the shape of a trapezoid. rlhe opposite parallel edges 18 and 19 are bent downward to `term short depending fianges. The rear flange 19 is cut away in portions to form a plurality of down ward] y bent lugs, or teeth.

The two side clamps are placed in their respective positions substantially as shown in Fig. 2, and the plate 17 placed on top of them. rl`he front flange will engage the `torward edges and the flange 19 with the depending teeth will engage the notches 7 and 20, respectively, locking the side clamp against accidental movement. Screws are then inserted in the holes 21, 22 and 23, which align with the slots 12 and 12 and the notches 13 and 13', and are screwed into the Wood of the ski to clamp the parts together and sccurely to the ski.

The width ot the 'assembled Vclamp may bc varied to suit the wearers shoe by loosening the screws and dieengaging the lugs on the plate 17 from the notches 7 and 2O inthe side clamp and sliding the clamps outward to the desired width whereupcn the screws are again tightened and the lugs engage the notches and prevent further movement. p

Although I have shown a `wooden ski with screws as the means of attachment, I may use bolts secured in any convenient way, such as by being threaded into metallic interiorly threaded sockets, commonly known as screwholes, embedded into the wood ski, and I do not `desire to limit any invention to the use of wood skis as it may be applied to metal skis as efficiently as to wood.

A toe strap may be provided, as shown in Fig. 1, at 24, having a buckle This strap is looped at both of its ends through the openings l0 and l0 provided by the shearing of the lugs Yl'l and 11 from the side plates 3 and 4. A heel harness 26, havin a buckle 27 and a clamp Q8 is also provided to engage the heel and includes the strap 29 and buckle 30 which passes over the instep. The harness is attached to the clamp assembly by hooks fastened to the end of the straps, which are'hooked over the buttons 8 and 8 and prevented from accidental displacement by the buttons t) and 9', as shown.Y The buckles furnish means of adjusting the strap to suit the shoe of the wearer and tac clamp 28 furnishes a quick means of releasing the straps.

Having thus described my invention in a preferred embodiment, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made from the emliodimentherein illustrate,r and described but without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In ay ski binder in combination with a ski or the like, toe plates including lateral attaching portions and vertical sup;)ortingz` portions, a clan'iping plate, said toe irons being jnovided with transverse slots intern'iediatc the lateral portion and a plurality of notches in the rear edge, said clamping plates being provided with a plurality of holes adapted to align with said slots in said toe plates and a plurality ot downwardly extending lugs, said notches adapted to be engaged by said `lugs to prevent relative movement between thereof bent downward to form a front and rear depending flange, said rear flange being cut away in portions to form a plurality of lugs` said clamping plate adapted to engage said toc plates and prevent accidental movement thereof, means` to hold the clamp- 'ig plate to said ski, said upwardly ext-ending flange being apertured to receive a toe Strap, said flange adapted for connection with the heel strap of the ski.

`3. In a ski binder, in combination a pair of relatively laterally disposed side plates, each of said side plates comprising an upstanding laterally disposed flange, means carried by each flange for connection with the heel strap of the a clamping plate adapted to be Superpos-,d over each of the side plates, said clamping plate being perforated to admit a securing screw adapted to be projected therethrough and between the inner jaws of the said plate elements into the ski, and interlocking means for the clamping plate and side plates adapted to secure the side plates against out-ward lateral displacement in a given adjusted position relative to the clamping plate, said interlocking means for the superposed plates, comprising projections of one of the plates extending within certain of a series of' transversely disposed slots in the other plate, according to the desir-et adjustment.

el. In a ski binder, a toe plate therefor comprising three pieces, two of the pieces having opstanding side flanges, and the third piece adapted to be disposed in superposed relation to the contiguous portions of the other pieces, and means comprising integral portions of superposed pairs of said pieces adapted to interlock to prevent relative lateral movement thereof when disposed in any of a plurality of lateral relatively adjusted positions.

5. In a ski binder, in combination` of' a pair of side plates therefor having flanged portions adapted to be secured to a transverse surface of' the ski, and a clamping plate for said flanges disposed in superposed relation thereto, said clamping plate and said flanges being each provided in a transversely extending edge portion with interlocking teeth, and means to secure the clamping plate to the ski.

6. In a ski binder, in combination, a pair of side plates therefor having flanged portions adapted to be secured to the upper surface of the ski, and a clamping plate disposed on top ot' said flanges, said clamping plate and said 'flange being each provided in a transversely extending edge portion with interlocl'zing teeth, and means to secure the clamping plate to the ski.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 17th. day of March, 1928.

LOUIS D. GIBSON. [L 5]. 

